Sarita Bazaz - Founder of The Food Affairs

She is the first woman entrepreneur in the catering industry…

Sarita Bazaz - Founder of The Food Affairs Sarita Bazaz, the first woman entrepreneur in the catering industry in India, founded The Food Affairs.

The Food Affairs is an organisation that has been spreading love through food for the past 30 years. The title of the first did not come easy to Sarita.

However, she acclaimed it despite varied opinions, uncertain expressions, and squandered opportunities owing to a woman single-handedly managing everything. The Food Affairs is a high-end catering company that offers a plethora of delicious cuisines.

They devote themselves to offering unparalleled hospitality and impeccable food with authentic flavours.

She holds her reputation for her attention to the smallest details, from selecting the best ingredients to innovating & reinventing recipes.

Initially, there was no allure in starting her own business; instead, she was primarily drawn towards the skill of cooking, for which she sought the right inspiration from her mother & sister.

Seeing them cook, she soon realised that cooking was more about the art of creating taste with passion, which encouraged her to prepare complete meals by the age of 13.

She spent her childhood in Bhagalpur, a small town in Bihar, in a typical Marwari household. Where food is as salient as religion. Most of the activities in the house were centred around food, & every chat was about the menu for the next supper.

To summarise, the Marwari culture not only incited the value of food in her but also the hospitality with which it was served. The sheer pleasure of offering a feast encouraged her to spread the love by orchestrating delectable delicacies.

Coming from a household with a backyard full of homegrown & organic ingredients kept Sarita ingredient-conscious, instating that she always chooses the freshest ingredients for every dish that TFA presents.

After moving to Delhi, three decades ago, she observed that the vegetarian food palette in the capital was simply basic.

Noticing the same limited varieties being repeated with no variations in flavour, she embarked on her first endeavour, implanted from her home kitchen after being pushed by her well-wishers. She ascended the ladder from corporate events to rendering services for similar-scale events with ease.

She trod the path of advancement by treating her clients like family, as a result, TFA only got better & bigger year after year.

"I live to eat & feed" is the food mantra or, more accurately, a life mantra that Sarita proudly proclaims. Reading the expressions of people as they relish her team’s food, and seeing them pleased, truly fulfils her.

Based on her gained experience & expertise, she believes that food is an element that boosts any celebration & touches the soul of all occasions.

Her ideology revisits the common proverb, "The way to one's heart is through their stomach." India’s beauty lies in its diversity, the same extends to our food; every 100 kilometres reveals a different cuisine. This multiplicity is what inspires Sarita to always add a fresh twist to her creations.

She staunchly believes, "Each cuisine has so much to offer & to learn from, these lessons are as deep rooted as our culture.” However, what often lags in Indian cuisine(s) is an appetising presentation.

This makes TFA stand to deliver delicious food of great taste with special attention to appealing appearances. Travelling for Sarita has been the best part of working in this sector.

As she travels to different areas, she meets new people, acquires new skills, discovers new ingredients, & is inspired to create a new recipe.

She states, "The best part about the food industry is that learning takes place in locations as large as cities and as small as neighbourhoods."

It's the authenticity of local inspirations on a global platform that seems to inspire her, on that note The Food Affairs came into being, to reflect their Glocal approach towards food. Previously, it was known as Ruskriti, with its origins deeply rooted in Indian culture, meaning ‘culinary flavour’.

However, to a layman it depicted a very traditional brand identity; thus, the name "The Food Affairs" was born, inviting food experimentation on global flavours yet retaining the essence of Ruskriti in practice. Sarita thinks that the catering industry will continue to have a bright future.

Food remains essential to any celebration, inherently food is our love language. Thus, it is our duty to constantly reinvent, maintain high-quality products & show what love feels like in a language that transcends all borders whether its geographical or religious.

Finally, waste management is a topic that occupies a great deal of attention from Bazaz. She insists that food waste has never gotten the importance it deserves.

Avoiding unnecessary waste & practising conscientious consumption is what this time calls for; after all, food is a metaphor for life, & respect for food is respect for life, for who we are & what resources we leave for the next gen.

Sarita Bazaz has also been featured in several well-known publications, such as Hindustan Times, Deccan Chronicle, Times of India, Marwar, The Hotelier India, Asian Age, Business World & list goes on.

She expresses gratitude for the recognition but what still primarily drives her are happy & well-fed guests; “The Food Affairs guests don't eat, they feast.”